Portable vehicle lift

ABSTRACT

A portable vehicle lift has a generally T-shaped frame that underlies the vehicle being lifted and rides along three triangularly spaced stanchions at the exposed ends of the beams comprising the frame during raising and lowering thereof. A pair of carriage units are slidable along the crossbeam of the frame for selective positioning beneath the underside of the vehicle being lifted, and a single carriage unit is slidable along the length of the central, longitudinal beam of the frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle in a third location, such adjustable support permitting the reception of vehicles of various sizes onto the frame. The frame may be folded into a compact condition with the beams lying in side-by-side relationship with one another, and the winch-powered block and tackle apparatus for raising and lowering the frame is totally contained on the frame itself, with the exception of those lengths of cable looped around guide sheaves on the stanchions. Safety mechanism is associated with each stanchion to prevent collapse of the frame in the event that the block and tackle apparatus should fail, and a special attachment is adapted to receive and retain the front wheels of the vehicle when it is desired to raise the front end thereof while leaving the rear wheels on the ground, such as when the transmission of the vehicle is to be removed.

United States Patent 1 Shirk [4 1 Feb. 11, 1975 PORTABLE VEHICLE LIFT [76] Inventor: Gerrel L. Shirk, 723 E. 4th,

Newton, Kans. 67114 [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,683

[52] US. Cl 254/89 R, l87/8.4l, 187/9 [51] Int. Cl B66f 7/02 [58] Field of Search 254/2 R, 2 B, 2 C, 4 R,

254/4 B, 4 C, 89 R, 89 H, 90, 47, 48; l87/8.41, 9, ll

Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson Attorney, Agent, or FirmSchmidt, Johnson, Hovy & Williams [57] ABSTRACT A portable vehicle lift has a generally T-shaped frame that underlies the vehicle being lifted and rides along three triangularly spaced stanchions at the exposed ends of the beams comprising the frame during raising and lowering thereof. A pair of carriage units are slidable along the crossbeam of the frame for selective positioning beneath the underside of the vehicle being lifted, and a single carriage unit is slidable along the length of the central, longitudinal beam of the frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle in a third location, such adjustable support permitting the reception of vehicles of varioussizes onto the frame. The frame may be folded into a compact condition with the beams lying in side-by-side relationship with one another, and the winch-powered block and tackle apparatus for raising and lowering the frame is totally contained on the frame itself, with the exception of those lengths of cable looped around guide sheaves on the stanchions. Safety mechanism is associated with each stanchion to prevent collapse of the frame in the event that the block and tackle apparatus should fail, and a special attachment is adapted to receive and retain the front wheels of the vehicle when it is desired to raise the front end thereof while leaving the rear wheels on the ground, such as when the transmission of the vehicle is to be removed.

13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED 4 SHEET 10F 2 PATENIED FEB] 1 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 PORTABLE VEHICLE LIFT This invention relates to a vehicle lift of the class which is highly portable requiring no permanent, massive center columns or the like or complex fluid pressure systems for extending and retracting such columns. An important object, therefore, of this invention is to provide a portable vehicle lift that can safely raise and support a vehicle to a position sufficiently high above the ground or floor of a workshopto enable one or more mechanics to facilely perform a variety of maintenance and repair operations on the vehicle.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide a portable lift as aforesaid having a supporting frame that can be expeditiously folded into a relatively compact condition for transport on a suitable trailer or the like or for storage in a location permitting use of the floor space for other purposes.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a portable lift that can readily accomodate vehicles of different sizes by virtue of shiftable carriage units on the frame of the lift which can be moved to positions necessary to properly and stabily support the underside of the particular vehicle being lifted.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a special arrangement of block and tackle for effecting powered raising and lowering of the lift wherein mechanical efficiency is substantially maximized and the area below the lift when the latter is raised remains free of cables and other components of the block and tackle.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide safety mechanism which functions to prevent dropping or collapsing of the lift should the block and tackle fail during lifting, or during the time that a vehicle is supported in a stationary condition.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of means for quickly and easily converting the lift into an arrangement for raising the front end only of the vehicle while leaving the rear end on the ground, such as to facilitate removal of the transmission of the vehicle which would otherwise be blocked by the underlyin'g frame of the lift during normal use of the latter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa lift constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lift showing a vehicle supported in a raised condition thereby;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view at one rear corner of the lift illustrating details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view of the lift corner of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical crosssectional view through the central, longitudinal beam of the lift illustrating the manner in which the shiftable carriage unit of such beam is mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is a largely diagrammatic view illustrating the routing for the block and tackle apparatus used for powered raising and lowering of the frame of the lift;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged. fragmentary cross-sectional view through the lift taken along line 7-7 of FIG. I;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail view illustrating the manner in which certain of the lifting cables are terminated at the block of the block and tackle apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of the lift with a special retaining and receiving pipe attached to the rear crossbeam when the lift is to be converted to an arrangement for raising only the front end of the vehicle;

FIG. 1] is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the modified arrangement in FIG. 10 taken along line 11- thereof; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view at the hinge point of the central longitudinal beam of the lift illustrating the lock therefor.

The lift of the present invention has a generally T- shaped frame 10 including a central longitudinal beam 12 having a pair of sections 14 and 16 pivotally interconnected by a hinge l8, and a crossbeam 20 pivotally connected to the proximal end of section 14 by a hinge 22. Details of hinge 22 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein it may be seen that a pair of ears 24 project laterally from crossbeam 20 and are disposed between a pair of similar ears 26 that project laterally from the longitudinal beam section 14, the ears 24 and 26 being interconnected by a common hinge pin 28. A releasable lock 30 on the opposite side of the junction of beams 12 and 20 in the nature of a pair of extensions 32 and 34 from beams 12 and 20 respectively having a removable pin 36 therethrough is used to hold the frame 10 in its normal T configuration as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a similar lock 38 (FIG. 12) on the side of beam 12 opposite hinge l8 releasably holds sections 14 and 16 in end-to-end relationship. Release of the locks 30 and 38 allows beam 12 to be swung clockwise viewing FIG. 1 about hinge 22 until beam section 14 is disposed alongside crossbeam 30, whereupon beam section 16 may then be swung in a counterclockwise direction about hinge 18 to bring section 16 alongside section 14 and crossbeam 20, thus presenting a compact, elongated package.

The opposed ends ofcrossbeam 20 are each provided with a vertically disposed sleeve 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which slidably receives an upright stanchion 42 having a flat bottom plate 44 that stabilizes the stanchion 42. The forwardmost end of longitudinal beam 12 is similarly provided with a sleeve 46 which slidably receives its stanchion 48 (FIG. 2) of similar construction to the stanchions 42, all of which provide guidance for the frame 10 when the latter is raised and lowered.

Safety mechanism broadly denoted by the numeral 50 is provided at each stanchion 42 and 48 for supporting the frame 10 at each incremental step in the raising process in order to prevent collapse of frame 10 should the power lifting apparatus (yet to be described) for frame 10 fail. The mechanisms 50 are identical and, therefore, only that mechanism 50 associated with the corner of the lift illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described. An upright, rigid ratchet member 52 extends in laterally spaced, substantially parallel relationship to stanchion 42 between the plate 44at the lower end and a horizontally extending brace 54 at the upper end. A U-shaped strap 56 is welded at its free ends to the sleeve 40 and is looped around member 52 for shifting movement along the latter during raising and lowering of frame 10. A vertically extending series of openings 58 in member 52 receive a swingable pawl 60 on sleeve 40 that is biased upwardly by a spring 62, the pawl 60 having an innermost end that is configured to bear against sleeve 40 when pawl 60 is in the 3 oclock position illustrated in FIG. 3 in order to prevent upward movement past such position. A crank 64 secured to pawl 60 may be operated by a line 66 leading preferably to the front of frame for releasing the mecha nism 50 when it is desired to lower frame 10.

The apparatus for raising and lowering frame 10 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6 and is denoted broadly by the numeral 68. The apparatus 66 includes tackle in the nature of three separate cables 70, 72 and 74 for the two rear stanchions 42 and the single forward stanchion 48. Each cable 70, 72 and 74 is terminated at a lug 76 on the sleeve 40 of beams or 12 respectively, is looped over a guide sheave 78 at the upper end of its stanchion 42 or 48, then returns to the beam 20 or 12 for looping around another sheave 80 at the proximal end of the corresponding beam 20 or 12. The cables 70 and 72 then extend in opposite directions along crossbeam 20 until reaching the junction of the latter with beam 12 where they are looped about a pair of individual, superimposed sheaves 82 and 84 having axes coincident with pin 28. Cables 70 and 72 then extend forwardly along beam 12 where they terminate at the rear end ofa block 86 as illustrated in detail in FIG. 9. On the other hand, the cable 74 extends rearwardly along beam 12 from the forwardmost end thereof until looping about another sheave 88 rotatably mounted on beam section 14 adjacent the junction thereof with crossbeam 20. Cable 74 then returns forwardly alongside of cables 70 and 72 until terminating at block 86.

The block 86 is controlled by a power winch 90 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the reel 92 of which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6. The winch 90 with its reel 92 is mounted on frame section 16 adjacent the forwardmost end thereof and has a line 94 that is wound and unwound from reel 92 in order to pull or release the block 86. Line 94 extends downwardly from reel 92 along one side of beam l2 where it is looped about a sheave 96 and then extends rearwardly to another sheave 98 rotatably mounted on the forwardmost end of block 86. Line 94 extends forwardly from sheave 98 for looping about a sheave 100 sharing the same axis with sheave 96, whereupon the line 94 once again extends rearwardly to yet another sheave 102 sharing the same axis on block 86 with sheave 98. After looping about sheave 102, line 94 once again extends forwardly along beam 2 section 16 until terminating at a lug 104 rigidly secured to section 16. Preferably, the winch 90 is of the electrically powered type so as to facilitate operation thereof. In any event, it will be seen that the lifting apparatus 68 is thus almost fully contained withon and within the frame 10, with the only exception of those areas of the cables 70, 72 and 74 that are looped about the sheaves 78. There are no terminal connections of the cables 70, 72 and 74 or of line 94 with any structure outside of frame 10. An extremely efficient mechanical advantage is thus obtained, and the area beneath the frame 10 when the latter is lifted is not cluttered by depending cables and the like.

The crossbeam 20 slidably supports a pair of carriage units 106 that are shiftable toward and away from the opposite ends of crossbeam 20 on opposite sides of Iongitudinal beam 12. Similarly, a larger carriage unit 108 is slidable along beam 12 on section 16 thereof toward and away from crossbeam 20. Units 106 and 108 are used to engage the underside of the vehicle during lifting thereof, and are of virtually identical construction, with the exception that the unit 108 is larger than the two units 106. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the unit 108 has a broad flat top 110 supported by a base 112 having a pair of inturned, downwardly extending angles 114 that receive the upper flange of the beam section 16, the latter being in the nature of an [beam as illustrated.

As illustrated best in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of wheel ramps 116 are removably placeable upon the crossbeam 20 on opposite sides of longitudinal beam 12 to facilitate the driving of a-vehicle into proper position on the lift during use. The ramps 116 are preferably used only when the frame 10 is fully lowered and are removed when the frame is raised as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In use, the lift is initially disposed as illustrated in FIG. I with the frame 10 lowered fully to the floor. The ramps 116 are placed upon crossbeam 20 in alignment with the front wheels of the vehicle, such as vehicle 118 illustrated in FIG. 2. Then, vehicle 118 is driven forwardly from the left of crossbeani 20 viewing FIG. 1 until the front wheels ride up and over crossbeam 20 and the side stanchions 42 are slightly rearwardly of the middle of the vehicle 118. Vehicle 118 should be centered between side stanchions 42 so that longitudinal beam 12 extends centrally of the vehicle 118.

Then, the ramps 116 may be removed and the carriage units 106 shifted along crossbeam 20 to locate the same in proper positions for engaging rigid frame structure beneath the vehicle 118. The exact positions of units 106 will, of course, depend upon the size of the vehicle involved as well as the configuration of the frame of the vehicle. Similarly, the front carriage unit 108 should be shifted along longitudinal beam 12 in order to position unit 108 in a suitable position underlying rigid frame structure or the like on the underside of vehicle 118.

Winch 90 may then be actuated to rotate reel 92 in a direction that draws block 86 generally toward winch 90 in order to gather in the cables 70, 72 and 74 relative to their stanchions 42 and 48. As soon as any slack is taken out of cable 70, 72 and 74, the frame 10 and vehicle 1 18 begin to rise along stanchions 42 and 48, the frame 10 in effect lifting itself through its winch 90. The raising action may continue until a predetermined height has been reached, whereupon deactivation of the winch 90 stops further lifting.

It is to be recognized that while the frame 10 and the supported vehicle 118 are being raised, the cables -74 are never disposed below frame 10 along the stanchions 42 and 48. That is, because the cables 70-74 are terminated at their opposite ends on the frame 10, the latter in effect simply gathers in the cables 70-74 and raises itself up through winch toward the top of stanchions 42 and 48. Therefore, the cables 70-74 as well as the line 94 of winch 90 in no way interfere with or hinder access to the underside of vehicle 118 such as could perhaps be the case if they were terminated on the stanchions 42 and 48. Moreover, by terminating cables 70-74 and line 94 on the part that is being lifted. i.e., the frame 10 itself, instead of on the part that remains on the floor, i.e., the stanchions 42 and 48, a significantly increased mechanical advantage is obtained.

Also of note is the fact that during each increment of upward travel of the frame 10, the safety mechanism 50 at each stanchion 42 and 48 operates to provide a failsafe" situation. As the frame rises, the pawl 60 of each mechanism 50 is pulled by spring 62 into an aligned opening 58 in ratchet member 52 corresponding to that particular increment of upward movement. As the frame 10 continues to rise beyond this point, the pawl 60 remains in its opening 58 until forced by a proximal surface of the member 52 to swing in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3 out of the opening 58 and drag for a short distance along the member 52 until once again springing into the next opening 58. Thus, in the highly unlikely event that the lifting apparatus 68 should fail, the pawls 60 are in position to catch the frame 10 and prevent collapse thereof. It is significant that even if the pawls 60 are out of the openings 58 at the particular instant that the frame 10 should drop, the springs 62 will flipthe pawls 60 into the next lower openings 58 as the frame 10 attempts to drop therepast. Therefore, the frame 10 is guarded against failure at each increment in the raising process.

When the vehicle 118 is raised to the height illustrated in FIG. 2 or even higher, it is very stabily held by virtue of the three point support thereof rendered through carriage units 106 and 108. This allows a wide variety of maintenance and repair operations to be carried out on vehicle 118 with complete assurance that the latter will remain stabily supported during such operations. Because much of the weight of vehicle 118 is disposed forwardly of the stanchion 42 when vehicle 118 is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 2, vehicle 118 has no tendency to tip rearwardly, thus allowing operations to be carried out on vehicle 118 with full assurance that vehicle 118 will remain solidly and stabily in its lifted position.

When it is desired to lower the vehicle 118 to the floor, it is first necessary to actuate winch 90 in the same direction as previously done to raise the'frame I0 slightly in order to allow the safety pawls 60 to be rotated clockwise out of their openings 58. With frame 10 so raised, the cranks 64 of mechanisms 50 may be operated by pulling the lines 66 associated therewith in order to swing pawls 60 fully out of their openings 58, whereupon the winch 90 may be reversed to allow the block 86 to move away from forward stanchion 48, thereby paying out the cables 70-74 relative to their stanchions 42 and 48. When the vehicle 118 has reached the floor, the ramps 116 may be repositioned upon crossbeam 20, allowing the front wheels of vehicle 118 to ride easily up and over crossbeam as vehicle 118 is backed off of the lift.

If no further use is intended for the lift and it is desired to store the same for a period of time, the locks 30 and 38 should be released to allow beam 12 to be rotated clockwise viewing FIG. 1 in order to bring the same into side-by-side relationship with crossbeam 20. Then, the beam section 16 may be folded back in the opposite direction about hinge 18 until section 16 lies alongside section 14, thus presenting a highly compact, storable or transportable package. Because there is no need to fasten down the stanchions 42 and 48, such folding up of the lift for storage or transport becomes a very simple operation.

FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to a situation which can arise where it is not desired to raise the entire vehicle 118 off the floor, but instead only one end thereof is to be raised while the other end remains on the floor. Such a situation is presented when it is desired to remove the transmission from the vehicle which might be interfered with by the beam 12 if the vehicle 118 were supported as shown in FIG. 2. Normally, when the transmission is to be removed, the front end of vehicle 118 will be raised, while the rear end thereof remains on the floor.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, an attachment 120 comprising an elongated bar or pipe element 122 and having a pair of hooks 124 at opposite ends of pipe 122 is provided for mounting on the frame 10 when this special situation arises. The hooks I24 slip over the top flange of the crossbeam 20 as illustrated best in FIG. I] to retain the pipe 122 in laterally spaced parallelism with crossbeam 20, overlying and vertically supported by the longitudinal beam 12. With the attachment 120' positioned as illustrated and the ramps 116 in use, the vehicle 118 may be driven from the left of the lift viewing FIG. 10 onto crossbeam 20 with the front wheels 126 settling in between crossbeam 20 and pipe 122 as shown in FIG. 11. This allows the front wheels 126 to be very capably retained by the pipe 122 against forward and rearward movement, whereupon the frame 10 may then be elevated to the desired extent in order to raise the front of vehicle 118. Thus, the area beneath vehicle 118 is fully clear, allowing the transmission to be easily removed without any obstructions. After the service work has been completed, it is only necessary to lower frame 10 and back the vehicle 118 off crossbeam 20.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable vehicle lift including:

a T-shaped frame having a single longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle,

said longitudinal beam being disposed midway between the opposite ends of said crossbeam and in perpendicular relationship therewith;

a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively,

each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation;

power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and

a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter,

a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions.

2. A portable vehicle lift including:

a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle;

a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively,

each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation;

power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and

a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter,

a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions,

said longitudinal beam being provided with a hinge pivotally connecting the same to said crossbeamfor swinging of the beams into side-by-side relationship to fold up the frame.

3. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said beams are provided with a releasable lock adjacent said hinge for holding the frame in its normal, unfolded condition.

4. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said longitudinal beam includes a pair of normally end-to-end sections, said sections having a second hinge interconnecting the same for swinging of the sections into side-byside relationship with each other and with said crossbeam when the frame is folded.

5. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sections are provided with a second releasable lock adjacent said second hinge for holding the longitudinal beam in its normal, unfolded condition.

6. A portable vehicle lift including:

a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle;

a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively,

each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation;

power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and

a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter,

a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions,

said power apparatus including tackle arranged to raise and lower said frame evenly at the stanchions,

said tackle being arranged without stationary, terminal connections to said stanchions,

each of said stanchions having a cable guide at its upper end,

said tackle including a cable for each stanchion respectively terminated at the end of a corresponding beam and looped over the proximal guide,

said apparatus further including a device on said frame for gathering in and paying out said cables with respect to their stanchions,

said apparatus further including a block, said cables being terminally secured to said block,

said device comprising a winch having a line coupled with said block for shifting the latter in directions to gather in or pay out said cables with respect to their stanchions.

7. A portable vehicle lift including:

a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle;

a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively,

each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation;

power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and

a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter,

a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions,

said apparatus including tackle arranged without stationary, terminal connections to said stanchions,

said beams being provided with a hinge pivotally interconnecting the same for swinging of the beams into side-by-side relationship to fold the frame.

8. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tackle includes a pair of cables from opposite ends of said crossbeam extending along said longitudinal beam, said tackle further including a pair of superimposed. rotatable sheaves for said cables having axes of rotation coincident with that of said hinge.

9. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said stanchions has a cable guide at its upper end, said tackle further including a third cable for the stanchion associated with said longitudinal beam, said cables each being terminated at the end of a corresponding beam and each being looped over a proximal guide, said apparatus further including a device on said frame for gathering in and paying out said cables with respect to their stanchions.

10. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 9, wherein each stanchion is provided with a rigid, upright ratchet member and the end of the corresponding beam is provided with a spring-loaded safety pawl releasably engageable with said member during raising of the frame for preventing collapse of the frame in the event the power apparatus should fail.

11. A portable vehicle lift including:

a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle;

a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively,

each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation;

power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and

a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter,

a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam crossbeam for receiving the wheels between the latter and said element.

12. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 11, wherein said element is supported by said longitudinal beam.

13. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 12, wherein said element rests upon said longitudinal beam and is provided with means for releasably securing the element to said crossbeam to hold the element in its spaced relationship with the crossbeam. 

1. A portable vehicle lift including: a T-shaped frame having a single longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle, said longitudinal beam being disposed midway between the opposite ends of said crossbeam and in perpendicular relationship therewith; a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively, each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation; power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter, a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions.
 2. A portable vehicle lift including: a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle; a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively, each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation; power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter, a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions, said longitudinal beam being provided with a hinge pivotally connecting the same to said crossbeamfor swinging of the beams into side-by-side relationship to fold up the frame.
 3. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said beams are provided with a releasable lock adjacent said hinge for holding the frame in its normal, unfolded condition.
 4. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 2, wherein said longitudinal beam includes a pair of normally end-to-end sections, said sections having a second hinge interconnecting the same for swinging of the sections into side-byside relationship with each other and with said crossbeam when the frame is folded.
 5. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sections are provided with a second releasable lock adjacent said second hinge for holding the longitudinal beam in its normal, unfolded condition.
 6. A portable vehicle lift including: a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehIcle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle; a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively, each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation; power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter, a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions, said power apparatus including tackle arranged to raise and lower said frame evenly at the stanchions, said tackle being arranged without stationary, terminal connections to said stanchions, each of said stanchions having a cable guide at its upper end, said tackle including a cable for each stanchion respectively terminated at the end of a corresponding beam and looped over the proximal guide, said apparatus further including a device on said frame for gathering in and paying out said cables with respect to their stanchions, said apparatus further including a block, said cables being terminally secured to said block, said device comprising a winch having a line coupled with said block for shifting the latter in directions to gather in or pay out said cables with respect to their stanchions.
 7. A portable vehicle lift including: a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle; a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively, each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation; power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter, a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions, said apparatus including tackle arranged without stationary, terminal connections to said stanchions, said beams being provided with a hinge pivotally interconnecting the same for swinging of the beams into side-by-side relationship to fold the frame.
 8. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tackle includes a pair of cables from opposite ends of said crossbeam extending along said longitudinal beam, said tackle further including a pair of superimposed, rotatable sheaves for said cables having axes of rotation coincident with that of said hinge.
 9. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said stanchions has a cable guide at its upper end, said tackle further including a third cable for the stanchion associated with said longitudinal beam, said cables each being terminated at the end of a corresponding beam and each being looped over a proximal guide, said apparatus further including a device on said frame for gathering in and paying out said cables with respect to their stanchions.
 10. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 9, wherein each stanchion is provided with a rigid, upright ratchet member and the end of the corresponding beam is provided with a spring-loaded safety pawl releasably engageable with said member during raising of the frame for preventing collapse of the frame in the event the power apparatus should fail.
 11. A portable vehicle lift including: a generally T-shaped frame having a central longitudinal beam normally extending fore-and-aft of the vehicle being lifted and a crossbeam normally extending transversely of the supported vehicle; a stanchion at each of the three exposed ends of said beams respectively, each stanchion supporting its corresponding beam end for vertical reciprocation; power apparatus operably intercoupling said stanchions and the beams for raising and lowering the frame; and a set of adjustable carriage units on said frame for engaging the underside of the vehicle during lifting of the latter, a pair of said units being shiftable along said crossbeam on opposite sides of said longitudinal beam into any of a number of selected positions, and a third unit being shiftable along said longitudinal beam toward and away from said crossbeam into any one of a number of selected positions, said frame being provided with structure for receiving and retaining the wheels at one end of the vehicle for tilting of the vehicle about the opposite end thereof when the wheels at said opposite end are engaging the ground and said frame is raised, said structure including an elongated, rigid element extending in laterally spaced relationship to said crossbeam for receiving the wheels between the latter and said element.
 12. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 11, wherein said element is supported by said longitudinal beam.
 13. A portable vehicle lift as claimed in claim 12, wherein said element rests upon said longitudinal beam and is provided with means for releasably securing the element to said crossbeam to hold the element in its spaced relationship with the crossbeam. 